Meaning & use
cell cycle
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Meaning
nounsingularbiology
The ordered series of stages in which a cell grows and then divides to form two new cells.
Grammar: Usually used in the singular with 'the'; the plural 'cell cycles' is rare.
Patterns
- the cell cycle
- progression through the cell cycle
- regulate the cell cycle
In biology class we drew a diagram of the cell cycle, from growth to division.
Certain drugs work by blocking the cell cycle, so the cancer cells cannot multiply.
The cell cycle is tightly controlled, and mistakes can lead to tumors.
Common combinations
- cell cycle regulation
- Cell cycle regulation ensures that DNA is copied correctly before division.
- the stages of the cell cycle
- The stages of the cell cycle include interphase and mitosis.
- cell cycle arrest
- The researchers observed cell cycle arrest after the treatment.
- progression through the cell cycle
- Proteins called cyclins control progression through the cell cycle.
Word family
Commonly confused: cell cycle or cell division?
cell cycle vs cell division
'Cell division' refers only to the moment when one cell splits into two, while 'cell cycle' covers the whole repeating process, including growth phases.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'cell cycle' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The cell cycle is the full sequence of growth and division, so it includes mitosis, the dividing stage. Option 0 is wrong because eating is not a defining stage; option 2 confuses it with the membrane; option 3 is false because it occurs in animal cells too.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cell cycle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.